The decision to write this started off as a joke. I had a faint glimpse of how Zee’s page gets so much attention. Needless to say, it was remarkable. Even after the exclusivity and ‘suplado’ vibes he sends off, some people risk it and all hell be damned– Try to have a few minutes of his attention.

Now, there was a time, a guy named Lucky wanted to know how I became his bastard. I wrote about it at a post called The Beginning, but after witnessing the sheer number of people messaging him, trying to get him to reply and help out, I simply realized that I have not given Lucky what he was implicitly looking for. I thought he wanted to know the story, but I realize now, he wanted to know how I actually did it!

Seeing some of Zee’s messages, and me, self-proclaimed to be very good at reading people, nitpicked on what they could be doing wrong and what could have made their business deserving of the time, and the second-look, and quite possibly the elusive gift of being a bastard of ZFT.

1. Be direct to the point.

If you get dozens of messages everyday by different people asking something from you, your patience and BS meter becomes relatively short. Start off your introduction and then tell him what you want. Is it a market question? Is it about the subasta? Do you want to be a bastard? Admit it fast. It will come out eventually anyway.

Put yourself in his shoes.

2. Be respectful.

Your character must speak for you. If you want him to know you’re intelligent, the way you present yourself should be enough to show him that. You don’t have to tell him you’re a graduate of whatever snotty university you came from– which I am, but I didn’t even have to bring that up to get noticed.

Remember this is not a job interview, it’s character assessment. Most people who get in aren’t even the wonder kids of the generation bound to discover the cure for cancer, it’s the people who have the right attitude and mental fortitude.

Tell it succinctly. Zee hates reading, it’s a miracle he even finishes my writings. He knows why you’re here, you know what you’re trying to do, so better start talking.

ZFT is exclusive and secretive. Their perception is different from the rest, they need to know who you are if they’re going to let you in. Measures have been made to protect themselves, they have to feel like they won’t make a mistake with you and undo years of hard work.

How long have you been in the market? What happened in between? What’s your story? Don’t make one up just to get in, there’s too many ways for them to double check that. Remember their identities are hidden, we have no idea who they really are and if they can be in a position where we’d make a fool of ourselves by lying to their faces.

They could even be in that secret chat group you think you’re safe at.

Extra tip: This could be a little unfair, but I don’t think Zee would accept anyone who’s never been bloodied by the market. The truth is, it stands to their appeal to see someone humbled by the market and yet beats on against the current.

There has been some exceptions, of course, but this is simply what I’ve observed so. Chances are higher for those who knew the kind of necessary pain they have to go through to become a great trader. If you have a choice between sugarcoating the awful storm you had to battle in trading the market, please don’t. 🙂 Place yourself at a better probability and show him your wounds.4. Understand the ZFT policy

Well, you probably know some of them as ruthless trolls with a distinct taste for carshow girls. Not all of them, of course, but don’t let that fool you.

Underneath that, they have a sense of pride and passion in trading and in retrospect, developed all kinds of principles other typical traders don’t have.

They don’t believe in moving like syndicates nor do they pretend to be jockeys or market makers. They believe in perfecting the art of emotionless trading, practicing it in every aspect (sometimes up to a dangerous extent). They allot time to condition their mind before trading. They don’t believe in ‘stock recommendations’.

The cool kids here are those who review the charts. Those who backtest their theories. Those who make up new plays. They name specific candles useful for trading decisions (Akio’s Bastard candle, for instance). It’s an academy. This is where the smart and hardworking people don’t get shamed for being hungry to succeed.

Kap Kidlat wanted to write a book, but stopped for a moment and considered if the material she’s going to publish is original and useful. There is so much pride in what they do.

It’s serious business in there, anything less and they won’t have room for you.

5. What is your end goal?

If you’re trying to be a bastard, they need to know what level of commitment you have. How much are you going to jump just to get there? Will you eventually be a full-time trader?

Remember, you’re going to ask them for their time and effort. They’re going to work their way around their schedule to mentor you. They’re going to teach you their system, support your emotions, dissect your trades for you and see where you went wrong, and they’re going to encourage you even when you want to quit.

You’d be surprised at the number of people who turns out to be disappointments, not by their intellectual capability, but by their lack of commitment.

A bastard directly under Zee resigned from abroad and moved to Zee’s home base just for the opportunity to be taught. He put his life on hold, prayed, then changed everything.

It’s just a question of ‘How much do you want this?’

6. Ask them for a challenge

Let them test you.

Let them find a test that would make them trust you and make worthy of what you will be about to receive. DO NOT USE ANOTHER GROUP’S CHALLENGE, you’re applying to them not to another stock market group, so ask what challenge they would give you.

Wounds are alright, that is something we all have. Bleeding is fine as well but don’t threaten them into taking you in.

Desperation is so unsexy. Tell them you want to be their bastard, but if after trying your best, they still can’t accomodate you, then make sure you let them know you don’t intend on giving up. There is no bad blood, but make them wish you were a part of their tribe. And maybe someday, they could reconsider.

And, yes, you don’t give up with or without ZFT.

8. Be humble and be teachable

How can you teach someone who doesn’t admit mistakes? That doesn’t even work. Sometimes, Zee asks me to do things that don’t seem to make any sense. I do it anyway.

He tell me ‘this is for your chart muscle memory.’, and I think, is there even such a thing?

Do it anyway.

9. Be sincere– read your target mentor’s blog

Okay, confession time, I DID NOT actually read Zee’s entire blog before messaging him, just bits and pieces so I had a superficial view of him. When he started asking me about it, I could have died in panic.

I randomly took screenshots of some of his posts, sent it to him, and prayed to the high heavens.

Goodness, it worked. But trust me I got lucky. Don’t try the same card I did, I already used that up so don’t push your luck, just don’t. You only have one chance. Be sincere and read it. It will help you in the end, whether or not he chooses to mentor you, you really don’t have anything to lose but everything to gain.

That’s like saying no to free pizza that also makes you define your abs.

So many people message Zee and bless him the kind of adoration reserved for the banals, they call him their idol and tell him his blog helped and inspired them. In under a few minutes of exchanges, he would find out that they don’t even know what ZS or AOTS is.

They get sent away faster than a blink of an eye. Don’t put your odds against you.

10. Lastly, loyalty.

The stock market looks exactly like your high school cafeteria. I’m sorry I thought that era was over too. I don’t know why it’s like this or who started it, but it is what it is, and the sooner you accept this the faster we can devise a plan to triumph over it.

The ZFT members aren’t forbidden by blood to never mingle with other groups, they do. But at the end of the day, their loyalty remains to the House.

They are, after all, brethren.

I hope this helps someone out there. Gather your courage, leave your pride at the door. It never got me anywhere when I was both a coward and prideful woman.

And if this sounds like a lot of work, I’m going to leave this here and let you decide if it’s worth it. 🙂

Mentor:

Mentor:

Mentor:

Mentor:

Mentor:

Mentor:

Student:

Student:

The decision that changed my life course so far. Difficult– yes, I’m struggling to play at their level– but was it worth it?

Well what do you think?

28% total gain of entire portfolio in a few days

Join the tribe. 🙂

Forever yours,

Celeste

P.S.

We have house parties, lazer tag, and pizza too.

“I’m just some ordinary non-warrior type of person. I just wanted to be useful at something.”, said the man who changed our entire world.